I think you misunderstand where i'm going. What I want to know is where this conversation is going to go. There are a lot of people who half say a lot of things. I think it'd be better if people said less and said more fully what they want to say.
I think there is some jumping down throats going on here. First and foremost there is an assumption about what the statement means. Secondly there is this really wierd conversation between some Muslims who want to convince secularist Chinese that their whole social structure is wrong and evil and our is better. This is all done with a defensive/aggressive tone. On the other side you get a load of chinese who are under the assumption that we're all looking to impose dominion over them and take away the pork...lol
TBH i'm a bit bored of the circles.
When i read some of the responses here initially - i was a little surprised and took it for islamaphobia. After having asked and talked to people rather than preached (i know this post makes me a hypocrite) i learnt;
- Chinese seem to dislike religion altogether
- They are an insular society by design
- they think their stability is built around conforming
- they think Muslims are the missionary in their approach to religion
- they think religious identity cannot co-exist with political or national identity.
Take that into account, am i going to preach religion to them? I'd rather tackle the misconceptions about my religion. Others are free to try and sell the virtues of organised religion to a people who have been taught to be wary of it.
@dsr478 made a good point about the alleged ban on the Quran, prayer mats, calling babies Muhammad etc. He called it oppression. if it's true - it is oppression. Previously i've been led to believe most of these accusations come from 1 anti chinese source.
Also did you learn all about Islam in the middle east or on tour somewhere? It seems pretty... that way orientated.
Only to the salafi's. Most other people don't wear veils as a religious requirement. Plenty of people choose to wear them, but don't consider them an essential of purdah.